Ridged Potato Chips, Cheddar & Sour Cream

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Ridged Potato Chips, Cheddar & Sour Cream scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Modified Fats (Partially Hydrogenated Soybean And/Or Cottonseed Oil): Hydrogenation and modification are UPF markers.
• Artificial Colors (Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake): Synthetic colors are definitive UPF markers.
• Modified Starches (Modified Corn Starch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
• Natural Flavors (Monosodium Glutamate): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
• Flavor Enhancers (Disodium Inosinate And Disodium Guanylate): Industrial flavor enhancement common in UPF.

Within Chips & Crisps, this product is more processed than about 85% of the 10,682 products we've analyzed.

Processing classification reflects ingredient and additive analysis, not a judgment of any product's safety, quality, or healthfulness.

What These Ingredients Tell Us

We group Ridged Potato Chips, Cheddar & Sour Cream's ingredients into ingredient categories and note how each relates to food processing. The notes below describe the category, not this specific product's formulation.

Processed Dairy IngredientsUPF marker

In this product: Sodium Caseinate.

Isolated proteins and modified ingredients indicate UPF.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Vegetable Oil (Contains One Or More Of The Following: Corn, Cottonseed, Sunflower Or Canola Oil).

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Cheese Flavor [Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Cheddar Cheese (Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes), Maltodextrin, Salt, Nonfat Dry Milk, Disodium Phosphate, Monosodium Glutamate (Flavor Enhancer), Citric Acid, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Lactic Acid, Whey], Sodium Citrate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Sour Cream Flavor [Sour Cream (Cream, Cultures, Lactic Acid), Citric Acid], Citric Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Maltodextrin, Sugar.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Yeast Extract.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.